Massachusetts Spared in Massive Additional Kmart, Sears Closings

No more Massachusetts Sears and Kmart locations will close other than the three already announced, the company revealed during Wednesday's announcement of a nationwide shuttering spree.

On the same day Macy's announced it is closing two Massachusetts locations, Sears Holdings, the corporate parent of Kmart and Sears, made the announcement that it will close 150 total locations. No Massachusetts locations were on the new list, but three were on the list of 30 Kmart and 16 Sears stores announced on Dec. 27.

It had already been announced that Kmart locations in Fairhaven and South Attleboro and a Sears in Swansea were scheduled to close at the end of March.

In a statement, Sears Holdings said the decision to close unprofitable stores was “a difficult but necessary step” to turn around the money-hemorrhaging company.

“Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around,” the company said. “But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success.”

The financially struggling retailer is closing 42 of its Sears stores, or about 10 percent of the Sears’ base.

Here is the list of Sears and Kmart stores to be closed.

Liquidation sales will begin as early as Friday, Jan. 6, at the stores that are closing.

Employees at the stores affected by the closure will receive severance pay and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart and Sears stores, the company said.

• See Also: 2 Massachusetts Macy’s Stores Among 68 to Close Nationwide

Feature photo by Mike Kalasnik via Flickr Commons

Beth Dalby contributed to this report